[SBRforum Staff]

By: Marc Lawrence
http://playbook.com

New head coaches headline the offseason changes in the NFC North. The only face that hasn't changed it seems is the one under the helmet on #4 for the Packers as Bret Favre returns for what should be his final NFL season.

With three new head coaches now roaming the NFC North Division in 2006, Lovie Smith is suddenly its senior resident - with all of two years experience. Yes, it will be a new experience for members of the chilliest division in the league. The question begs is anyone other than the division champ (by default) worthy of playoff consideration?

Here is my take of teams in the NFC North Division for 2006.

CHICAGO
It’s hard to knock the success of a team that improved substantially on all sides of the ball. A tip of the hat goes out to Lovie Smith on the fine job he did in resurrecting this once proud program. His reward in 2006 will be to take on the easiest slate of all teams (opponents .445 last year). He’ll also resume the year with all 22 starters back in place. Surprisingly (then, again, maybe not) the Bears turned the other cheek on helping the league’s 31st ranked offense when they landed five defensive players with their first five selections in this year’s draft. Like most good coaches, Smith has made division games a priority (9-3 ATS, 6-1 ATS as dog). He’ll need to tighten his focus in non-division battles, especially when going into revenge (2-8 ATS). It’s no wonder, all around the Windy City, you can feel the love.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. San Francisco (10/29)

DETROIT
What a difference a year makes. Entering the 2006 season, the Mooch is gone, the Joey Harrington project is history and the Lions declined on another wide receiver in this year’s draft. Who would have ever guessed? Brought in to replace Steve Mariucci is Rod Marinelli, former 10-year assistant head coach with Tampa Bay. Marinelli’s first move was to bring ex-Rams head coach Mike Martz aboard as his offensive coordinator. They proceeded to bring in veterans Jon Kitna and Josh McCown to put a new stamp on the program. Perhaps the most telling stat of this team is the fact they have managed back-to-back victories only TWO TIMES IN FIVE YEARS under Matt Millen’s direction. Our best guess is he is the next one on the hot seat in the Motor City. Now we have a better understanding of the FORD acronym - Fix Or Repair Daily.
PLAY AGAINST: as home favorite vs. Chicago (12/24)

GREEN BAY
Ironman Brett Favre and his 221 consecutive game starting streak are back for a swan song with renewed hope following last year’s disastrous 4-win effort. Unfortunately, Favre was picked off 29 times last season and his offense has allowed 106 turnovers (2nd worst in the league) the last three years. A rock-solid draft found the Packers building a defense for the future when they landed LB’s A. J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge. During the draft, though, they traded star WR Javon Walker and passed on selecting WR Chad Jackson of Florida, a decision they may likely regret. Main priority will be getting healthy as the return of RB’s Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport will go a long way in determining Favre’s play calling capacity. Can’t understand how a team $20M under the cap landed such a weak crop of free agents. Here’s hoping No. 4 closes like the winner his is.
PLAY ON: home vs. Minnesota - *KEY as dog - (12/21)

MINNESOTA
On the heels of three nine-win seasons in a row Mike Tice was dispatched in favor of new head coach Brad Childress as the Vikings continue their search for a regular spot in the NFL playoffs. The bottom line is Tice led Minnesota into the post-season only once in his four-year tenure while losing more games than he won (33-34). Gone, too, is former QB Duante Culpepper (to Miami) as Childress looks to plug the leaks from last year’s Love Boat scandal. He inherited a linebacking corps that has been stripped, thus the selection of OLB Chad Greenway in the first round of this year’s draft. QB Brad Johnson will need last year’s top draft choice, WR Troy Williamson, to step up his game if the offense expects to improve on it’s 100-plus yard decline from last year. Ironically, through it all, Randy Moss suddenly looks like a saint.
PLAY AGAINST: as favorites at Detroit (12/10)

[bigboydan]

I'm wondering if Greise will be starting for the Bears this year. IF that does happen, i'm looking for a sub-par year ATS wise from the Bears this year.